Potato digger



Feb. 16, 1932. M. s. REYNOLDS 1,845,189

POTATO DIGGER Filed Oct. 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor N q M .S. RGJnOldS' A iiomey F613. 16,1932. M. s. REYNOLDS 1,845,189

' POTATO BIGGER Filed 001;. 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fyyl Inventor M.S Reynolds 7 A itorney Feb. 16, 1932 M. s. REYNOLDS POTATO DIGGER Filed Octv 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Feb. 16, 1932. M. s. REYNOLDS POTATO DIGGER Filed 001;. 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 In venior w &

b l l l I l l l 1 By 2mm A iiorney 2t combination and arrangement of. parts as The upperfruns of these chains 21 ride on Patented'Feb. 16, 1932 I I entree STATE PATENT OFFICE;

MARSHALL s. REYNOLDS, or FOR-T1 FAIRFIELD, MAINE "rorn'ro BIGGER 1 r Application filed October 27,1930. Serial No. 491,567.

The present invention relates to a machine notes the draw bar attached to. the front for digging potatoes from the ground and end ofthe bar extension '6 bysuit-able yoke depositing them in the rear and hasfor its 15 or the like so'that the apparatus may be 7 prime object to provide a structure which pulled along by a tractor or other suitable 3 is comparatively low in its arrangement of draft means. The yoke .is rigidly connected 5 parts, to prevent bruising of the potatoes to the draw bar andto the extension 6, so that Another very important object of the Vinit always remains in an upright position. vention resides in the provision of a potato A. shaft 16 is journalled in bearings 171mdigger of this nature which is comparatively der the rear ends of the bars 5 and has sprock- It simple in construction strong and durable, etslS fixed thereto.- Sprockets 19 are mountso thoroughly efficientand reliable in use and ed on a shaft '20 between the front ends of operation compact and convenient in its ar the extensions 6. Endless chains 21 are jourrangement of parts, and otherwise well nalledo'ver the sprockets l8 and 19. A pluadapted to the purpose for which it is derality of spaced parallel slats 22"are mounted signed. i i Y between the chains 21. Aplurality of bracka) With the above and numerous other obets 23' are arranged at spaced intervals on jects in View as will appear as the description the'bars 5 and their extensions 6 and have proceeds, the invention resides in certain idlers 2a thereon under the lower runs of the novel features of construction, and in the endless'chains 21.

will be hereinafter more fully described and: flanges or shoulders 25 projecting inwardly claimed. from the side boards 7 and their extensions 8. In the drawings: A super frame structure 26 rises from the Figures 1a and 16 form a top plan View side bars adjacent the wheels 11 andan f th machine embodying the features of engine 27 is mounted thereon having a chain 75 this invention, and sprocket connection 28 with a chain and Figures 2a and 22) form a side el vational sprocketmechanism 29 operatively connected view thereof, and with the shaft 16.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section A Chain g n g mechanism 30 is through the machine. mounted on the frame 26 to provide proper Referring to the drawings in detail it will tension for the chains of the mechanisms 28 be seen that numerals 5 denote a pair of and 29. From the above detailed descripelongated side bars disposed in spaced paraltion it will beseen that as thisapparatus is lel coextensive relationship to each other and P ll a ong, h igg ng'spade 12 digs into merging at their forward ends in downwardthe ground lls ng' he potatoes to be dely inclined extensions 6. Side boards 7 rise l v d up On o the lower portion of the fr th bar 5 and rg i to d w wa dly endless conveyor formed by the slats and and forwardly inclined extensions 8 rising endless chains so that thepotatoes are moved from the extensions 6. The intermediate porpw rdly and rearwardly to be deposited tions of the side bars 5 are mounted by suit- 01 the ground or in suitable receptacles. 9O abl m an 9 o a drop axl 10 011 th d Particular attention is directed to the relaof which are journalled wheels 11 so that th 151% lowposition which is affordedithe entire apparatus is located in close proximity to the machine because of the p eXle t ground thereby preventing thebruising of the W111 h Se that h m ehine is exceedpotatoes as they are dropped on the ground g' p e in its s onymay be m 9.5 or in any receptacle as will become apparent factured at a relatively W Cost, is strong as the description proceeds. and durable and well adaptedto withstand Mounted on the front extremities ofthe he use to which it is p d t0 he put in extensions 6 and the front ends of the extenactual operating condition sions 8 is a digging spade 12. Numeral 14 de- The present embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: v

1. A machine of the class described comprising a pair of elongated spaced parallel coextensive side bars merging at their for ward ends into downwardly and forwardly inclined extensions, an endless conveyor mounted between the side bars and their extensions, a digging element at the lower ends of the extensions, and a wheeled truck for supporting the side bars, said wheeled truck including a drop axle on the lower portion or" which are supported the side bars, a superframe rising from intermediate portions of the side bars and having an engine mounted thereon, and means operatively connecting the engine with the endless conveyor.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a pair of elongated spaced parallel coextensive side bars merging at their forward ends into downwardly and forwardly inclined extensions, an endless conveyor mounted between the side bars and their extensions, a digging element at the lower ends of the extensions, and a wheeled truck for supporting the side bars, said wheeled truck including a drop axle on the lower portion of which are supported the side bars, a superframe rising from intermediate portions of the side bars and having an engine mounted thereon, and means operatively connecting the engine with the endless conveyor, said endless conveyor being formed from a pair of endless chains trained over sprocket and axle structures and having a plurality of slats therebetween.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a pair of elongated spaced parallel coextensive side bars merging at their forward ends into downwardly and forwardly inclined extensions, an endless conveyor mounted between the side bars and their extensions, a digging element at the lower ends of the extensions, and a wheeled truck for supporting the side bars, said wheeled truck including a drop axle on the lower portion or" which'are supported the side bars, a superframe rising from intermediate portions of the side bars and having an engine mounted thereon, and means operatively connecting the engine with the endless conveyor, said endless conveyor being'formed' from a pair of endless chains trained over sprocket and axle structures and having a plurality of slats therebetween, side boards rising from the side bars and their extensions and formed with inwardly directed flanges on which the upper runs of the chains rise.

4-. A. machine of the class described comprising a pair of elongated spaced parallel coextensive side bars merging at their forward ends into downwardly and forwardly inclined extensions, an endless conveyor mounted between the side bars and their extensions, a digging element at the lower ends of the extensions, and a" Wheeled truck for supporting the side bars, said wheeled truck including a drop axle on the lower portion of which are supported the side bars, a superframe rising fromintermediate portions of the side bars and having an engine mounted thereon, and means operatively connecting the engine with the endless conveyor, said endless conveyor being formed from a pair of endless chains trained over sprocket and axle structure and having a plurality of slats therebetween, side boards rising from the side bars and their extensions and formed with inwardly directed flanges on which the upper runs of the chains rise, brackets depending from the side bars and their extensions and having rollers mounted thereon under the lower runs of the chains.

7 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MARSHALL S. REYNOLDS. 

